Thomas Sorensen is ready to take out two years of frustration on the best strikers at home and abroad after revealing the legacy of Peter Schmeichel continues to drive him forward.

Thomas Sorensen is ready to take out two years of frustration on the best strikers at home and abroad after revealing the legacy of Peter Schmeichel continues to drive him forward.

Sunderland's goalkeeper was the undisputed man of the match in the 1-0 victory against West Ham on Saturday and laid the foundation for Kevin Phillips' late winner with a string of world-class saves.

Many of his stops were reminiscent of Schmeichel at his best, and S&oslash;rensen, bound for the World Cup next summer, admits the former Danish number one is never very far from his thoughts.

"It was difficult for me as Peter's understudy and I was substitute for my country for more than two years," explained the in-form Scandinavian.

"I couldn't get a game because he wanted to play every single one, even the friendlies, and sometimes I couldn't understand that.

"It was a frustrating time, but I had to be patient and I took my chance when it came along.

"Now that I'm the Danish number one I have greater responsibilities and I want to demonstrate that at club level, too.

"I have waited a long time to reach this level and now I aim to stay there."

S&oslash;rensen has visibly grown in confidence and stature following Schmeichel's retirement, and the spur of a World Cup in Japan and South Korea will ensure he strives to reach even greater heights. Three saves after half-time denied West Ham a vital breakthrough and the third, a wonderful tip onto his own crossbar, was a superb example of the Dane's undeniable talent.

"You grow with your position and your performances," added S&oslash;rensen. "My profile is higher here and at home, but I thrive on it. I like to be under pressure and be the focus of attention. Peter is the same and I've spoken to him a number of times in the last few months and we always get along.

"I'd be stupid not to take his advice and if he can help me I'll always take what he says on board.

"I have great respect for him and he backs what I'm doing on the pitch. He might be past his best goalkeeping-wise, but you can't beat the presence, experience and character he brings to the game."

Even Schmeichel would have struggled to match S&oslash;rensen's dominance against Glenn Roeder's side and many lesser keepers would have crumbled under the Hammers' early second-half pressure. However, S&oslash;rensen was typically modest and insisted: "Those saves don't really matter to me immediately after a game.

"Maybe I'll look back on them during the week and be more pleased with the stops then but I have to repeat the trick next week."

Sunderland boss Peter Reid, meanwhile, is hopeful of tying up a deal for Glasgow Rangers midfielder Claudio Reyna this week. A #4m-plus move for the United States skipper could go through before the weekend if the Ibrox club are knocked out of the Uefa Cup by Paris-Saint Germain on Thursday.

Reid, however, dismissed suggestions in France that he is to sign PSG's out-of-favour former Arsenal striker Nicolas Anelka on loan until the end of the season.